I’m called a switcher, the name for the growing number of us who switched from PC’s to Macs. I’ve used PC’s since the early days, in fact, I was “into” computers before there were PC’s. My first computer was a Texas Instruments which hooked to the TV, that was 1981. Yikes, 27 years ago! I owned the IBM PC, the first real PC, then an IBM PC Jr., then IBM clones, then Toshiba laptops. I loved Microsoft right up through DOS 5.0. After that, Microsoft annoyed me, because they just heaped a Windows shell on top of the old DOS core, (kind of like those pictures you see of some bicycle rider in China with all his junk stacked up just behind the seat—you wonder how the whole thing stays upright.) and evolving into loathing because of how it wasted gobs of my time.
I began to forgive Bill somewhat with XP, but they still made what should have been very simple tasks, very difficult. For instance, when I popped a DVD into the brand new “media” machine at work, it did not have the slightest clue what to do and suggested that I spend the next couple of hours downloading drivers to access this foreign object had I dared to shove in it. Media machine my ass.
My first Apple was an iPod. This devise worked flawlessly. It looked nice and felt nice. It actually played music just like it was supposed to do. When one buys a broom, one sort of expects it to be able to sweep the floor. I was impressed with the iTunes software which ran well on the PC. It worked elegantly without having to fiddle with it at all. I just had to try a Mac. (they call this the “halo” effect)
I studied Apple at length online and learned that they were not plagued by viruses. The same company that made the hardware also made the software so they said it all worked together smoothly. We’ll, I had to see. I got the Mac Mini, it was a cheap way to see if they lived up to their hype. I won’t say it was instant because there was a bit of a learning curve (they should have switcher training videos) to get through but after a few days it began to dawn on me that the hype is actually understated. Summing up the Apple hardware and software computing experience in three words…it just works.
More than that, it does things exactly as you would think it should. No hassle. No drivers. Nothing to configure. One thing I’ve learned though. You can’t explain this to Windows sufferers, who cling to their oppressor, (I think they call that the Stockholm syndrome) it’s like opening the jail cell door but they stubbornly refuse to leave! They think you’re being preachy when you try to convince them. I’m too busy getting real work done and having a blast to go around casting pearls. If someone really wants a better computer, they’re going to have to get off their whiney ass like I did and look for it. They will find Apple. Then, maybe I’ll drop them an article from right inside our iChat video conference. Very cool.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Apple has few advantages.
Windows Vista, that’s it!
yea. Apple is ‘cool’ but they do have some disadvantages as well. I own a macbook last year ago, thank god until now no problem. pretty scare if got issue. Cos’ it going cost a big fat bomb with after the warranty period. Some application still need to run in windows, that’s no choice, such as games -_-
i think apple is the most reliable brand in the world..i have never had problems with an apple.
I am not an Apple user but in all this you forgot about Linux. I mean have you ever tried it? You can use it on PC and I think on Macs (not sure) as well. They’re also very secure and now a days very user-friendly as compared to the old days. And the number of great applications on Linux is just rising and some of the distributions work out-of-the-box as far as multimedia is concerned.
Above all, you get it for free
Apple products are good but I haven’t used them by myself, only have heard from others.